diff --git a/src/delegate.jl b/src/delegate.jl
index e198ac144..08a66d160 100644
--- a/src/delegate.jl
+++ b/src/delegate.jl
@@ -1,7 +1,17 @@
 # by JMW
+
+function unquote(e::Expr)
+    @assert e.head == :quote
+    return e.args[1]
+end
+
+function unquote(e::QuoteNode)
+    return e.value
+end
+
 macro delegate(source, targets)
     typename = esc(source.args[1])
-    fieldname = source.args[2].args[1]
+    fieldname = unquote(source.args[2])
     funcnames = targets.args
     n = length(funcnames)
     fdefs = Vector{Any}(n)
@@ -17,7 +27,7 @@ end
 
 macro delegate_return_parent(source, targets)
     typename = esc(source.args[1])
-    fieldname = source.args[2].args[1]
+    fieldname = unquote(source.args[2])
     funcnames = targets.args
     n = length(funcnames)
     fdefs = Vector{Any}(n)